17.06.2022.
Class of June 2022 take oath of enlistment
Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Defence Nebojša Stefanović, PhD, has attended the oath of enlistment ceremony for soldiers performing their voluntary military service as of June 2022 and Air Force and Air Defence NCO Course participants. The ceremony was held at the "Vojvoda Živojin Mišić" barracks in Valjevo today. Minister Stefanović congratulated them on taking the oath and said that what those young people had in common was the courage to show their genuine love for their homeland.
- These young people have given their word today that they will guard every inch of our free and beloved country. I want to remind you that people managed to defend Serbia with their lives and preserve it with their love. The history of our people is the history of our military. Before you, this sacred military oath was taken by all our famous military leaders, widely known in world history. I have returned from Paris where I spent a few days and I can tell you that I felt immensely proud to be a Serb in Paris, given their respect for our ancestors, the heroes who fought side by side with the French in the First World War. I also had the opportunity to visit the Serbian Military Cemetery near Paris, where more than 700 of our ancestors were buried. The heroes of the Serbian army, charged and fought for freedom side by side with the French, and afterwards, wounded and exhausted they were transferred to France for treatment. A number of them, i.e. those seven hundred, remained on the French soil forever - said Minister Stefanović.The Minister of Defence is extremely proud that even today, nothing but words of praise can be heard about our military in the world.
- Every one of our soldiers around the world and every one of our soldiers who does this difficult and serious, perhaps the most difficult, but also the most honourable job in our country, is respected. Every person who has ever seen Serbian soldiers perform their assignments, has described them as extremely professional, serious and worthy of respect. Today, here in Valjevo, I want to tell you how proud I am of all of you who have come to perform voluntary military service and all of you who have decided to become non-commissioned officers and serve in the Air Force after this course. One thing you have in common is the courage to show that you love your country sincerely, to show that you are Serbia’s true soldiers - said Minister Stefanović.
According to him, their determination to join the military deserves respect of the entire country.- Our officers have made an effort to create optimum training conditions, and I want to thank all the people who have been involved in that process. Over the past year and a half, I have had the opportunity to see how much attention, energy and dedication they devote to training and preparing everyone to defend and protect their country, but they also look after the soldiers as if they were their children. You know that our country is neutral, a country that does not want to wage other people's wars, that protects what belongs to it and the only battles it wants to fight are the ones for a stronger economy, higher salaries and pensions, new factories and new jobs. And that is why we want to have one of the best equipped militaries for a country our size, so that we can be independent and make decisions exclusively in the interest of our people. We respect everyone, but we only love our Serbia - said Minister Stefanović, emphasizing that a strong military is the guarantor of peace and stability in our country.
He is convinced that, in addition to acquiring military skills, the young people who have taken the oath today, will take back home beautiful memories that they will gladly remember.- I want to thank you once again and I am sure that you will remember the time spent in the military for the rest of your lives. You will have many fond memories. All of us who have served in the military remember those days very fondly. Be proud of wearing the Serbian Armed Forces uniform, because the words you have uttered today are not just empty words. The pledge you have made is a promise of love and loyalty to the homeland, and those words will remain engraved in your heart forever. Be proud soldiers and do not forget that Serbia is our only homeland - said Minister Stefanović.
As the ceremony in Valjevo continued, Minister Stefanović attended the signing of the wording of the oath of enlistment and talked to the soldiers and their families. The commander of the ceremony was Colonel Saša Stojiljković, commander of Valjevo’s 2nd Training Centre.
Today's ceremony was attended by Commander of the Training Command, Major General Željko Petrović, Head of the Human Resources Department, Brigadier General Savo Iriškić, Head of Defence Minister’s Office, Colonel Stevan Kotarlić, Sergeant Major of the Serbian Armed Forces Nenad Stević, Mayor of Valjevo Lazar Gojković, and representatives of the local self-government and Serbian Orthodox Church.